Regional leaders say funds urgently needed to support population growth

New state government figures predict Moorabool Shire and the City of Ballarat will see huge population growth in the next 20 years. Regional leaders say more planning and investment in infrastructure is needed to make sure regional towns are ready.

Moorabool Mayor Paul Tatchell says the shire's enormous predicted population growth will bring with it problems that are just as big.

The Department of Planning's report titled Victoria in Future 2014 suggests Moorabool, which includes Ballan and Bacchus Marsh, will be the fourth fastest growing local government area over the next two decades.

Its population is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 2.3 percent, which equates to 16,315 more people living in the area.

Cr Tatchell says the region's attractions are its rural lifestyle and close proximity to Melbourne, but the council doesn't want the area to become a western suburb.

"When most of your area is agricultural and you have this influx of growth, you have to really find that fine line of balance that maintains the very reason for your existence."

He says the shire's infrastructure wasn't designed to support such a large population, and will require "enormous" amounts of funding to keep up.

"Realisitically, we're going to be playing catch-up for a very long time."

Meanwhile, Committee for Ballarat chief executive John Kilgour says the report's predictions for Ballarat don't come as a surprise.

The report forecasts Ballarat's population will grow by almost 47,000 in the next 20 years, making it the third largest growth in a regional area.

Rising at an average rate of two percent a year, the report forecasts a 2031 population of 142,000.

Mr Kilgour says this shows Ballarat's growth will be faster than the state and national average, and it's critical more jobs are created to support that growth.

He cited the Ballarat West Employment Zone, which would provide around 9600 jobs, as a key project for the city.

"It's about getting ahead of the curve and making sure we're putting infrastructure in place ahead of population growth."

In the south west, Corangamite Shire's population is predicted to fall by 0.1 percent, or 211 people.

The Mayor Chris O'Connor says Corangamite's population has been flatlining since 2006, but he believes the shire has much potential for growth.

"Tourism and food production are real growth areas and we're very well positioned to grow in those."

But he says in order to maximise those opportunities, transport infrastructure must be improved.

Cr O'Connor suggested the shire's lack of a large town - with Camperdown the biggest centre - could be contributing to its difficulty in attracting younger people to the area.

"We've got quite a low unemployment rate and that suggests we've got jobs available but we have trouble filling them and have trouble attracting people."

He says the council is focusing on making the towns more liveable, as far as recreational, health and educational facilities go, and is selling its small size as an asset.